HomePod OS 26: These are the new features in Apple's new firmware
Apple has updated the HomePod firmware along with its new operating systems. That's why you should install it.
Apple's HomePod 2: It's already been around for two and a half years.
(Image: Apple)
Not only Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Apple TV received upgrades this month, but HomePod software, also known as HomePod OS, also received an update. This new version is also based on Apple's new annual numbering system, so it is logically called HomePod OS 26.
Also available for older devices
According to Apple, there are two key new features, although a third has been added that the manufacturer does not mention. They relate to the use of Apple Music, the AirPlay streaming protocol, and the WiFi control of the smart speakers. HomePod OS 26 is compatible with all existing HomePod devices, i.e., HomePod 1 (released in 2018), HomePod 2 (from 2023), and HomePod mini (from 2020, with a color change in summer 2024).
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Apple Music customers will be able to use a new “fade” feature in the future. According to Apple, this will create smooth transitions between two consecutive tracks “so the music never stops.” However, this is not the more complex AutoMix feature on the iPhone, which analyzes songs, beat-matches, and time stretches. HomePods can play Apple Music without having to be fed by another device, such as an iPhone, but they have significantly less computing power.
Security and Wi-Fi
If you have multiple HomePods and use AirPlay, you can now use Siri to transfer audio playing on one speaker to another. The other speaker must be located in your home (and preferably named so that you can find it). Finally, Apple also promises some “bug fixes and stability improvements,” but the company does not explicitly communicate what these are. The manufacturer also does not specify whether any security vulnerabilities have been closed.
Another new HomePod OS feature concerns Wi-Fi settings. Currently, these can only be configured to a very limited extent. Usually, the HomePod takes over the network to which the configuration device (e.g., an iPhone) is connected. You only receive a warning if this device is later connected to a different network (such as a guest network), and you can then switch the HomePod to that network. With HomePod OS 26, Apple now allows you to set the network directly; there is a separate “Wi-Fi Network Selector” screen. This gives you more control over the Wi-Fi network you use for the first time.
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